Google said it would use fiber optic lines to the home, the same technology used by many telecommunications companies, but declined to give details about whether it would build, buy or rent such services and how much the venture would cost the No. 1 search engine company.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski immediately hailed the move, saying "big broadband creates big opportunities".

Google's "significant trial will provide an American testbed for the next generation of innovative, high-speed Internet apps, devices and services," Genachowski said in a statement.

Google said it would offer the service at a "competitive price" to at least 50,000 and up to 500,000 people in a small number of locations in the United States.

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